I want to say that was 4.75, Roman/Owens was 4.5
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July Wrasslin' |OT| All this G1 talk is making me Climax.
- Thread starter Bronx-Man
- Start date
I want to say that was 4.75, Roman/Owens was 4.5
serenewarfare
Banned
I would absolutely put Dunne vs. Bate from Takeover in my top five this year. It was amazing.
But if you don't want to count NXT as WWE, then I could see how none of your top matches would be WWE matches. The only one I could argue for would be Cena/AJ at the Rumble, but i thought their SS match was better.
But if you don't want to count NXT as WWE, then I could see how none of your top matches would be WWE matches. The only one I could argue for would be Cena/AJ at the Rumble, but i thought their SS match was better.
Dental Plan
Member
You will all miss the BIG DAWG when he is gone.
TarpitCarnivore
Member
As long as they keep giving away free promo codes that aint going to happen. It's like the AOL method of giving away minutes
Angry Grimace
Two cannibals are eating a clown. One turns to the other and says "does something taste funny to you?"
Yeah, it was.
That, and Bate/Dunne were both pretty great in WWE this year.
It has nothing to do with the ability of the people on the roster to put on 5-star matches, its that the booking hasn't put the guys who can work with another guy who can work.
The closest they've even come since then is Styles/Owens and while I do like Owens a lot, but Owens isn't a 5 star match guy. Owens is a character guy who is a really good worker by WWE standards. And let's be fair the quality of matches has gone up across the board such that expectations are way higher. Styles/Cena is a 5 star match in a lot of years.
It came to me this morning in the shower that I could list the top 20 wrestling matches this year and not a single one would be from WWE. I dont think theres ever been a year where there wasnt at least one WWE match in the top 10, let alone the top 20, but here we are.
- Takahashi vs Kushida WK11
Goto vs Shibata WK11
Naito vs Tanahashi WK11
Omega vs Okada 1 WK11
Okada vs Suzuki New Beginning in Sapporo
Naito vs Elgin New Beginning in Osaka
Okada vs Tiger Mask W NJPW 45th Anniversary Show
Ishii vs Omega New Japan Cup
Okada vs Shibata Sakura Genesis
Omega vs Ishii Wrestling Dontaku
Kushida vs Ospreay Best of the Super Juniors
Kushida vs Takahashi Dominion
Tanahashi vs Naito Dominion
Okada vs Omega 2 Dominion
Omega vs Elgin G1 in USA
Omega vs Ishii G1 in USA
Naito vs Ibushi G1 Night 1
Omega vs Suzuki G1 Night 2
Okada vs Elgin G1 Night 4
Ibushi vs Ishii G1 Night 5
Bolded are my top 3 favorite matches of the year so far.
Keep in mind I am not caught up on the G1 (just finished night 5), and I havent watched every minute of every show so I bet Im missing something here, but I promise you, to anyone whos curious about New Japan, you legitimately cant go wrong with any of the matches on this list. Theyre all incredible and range from 4 to 6.25 stars on the Meltzer scale.
I also strongly believe that if these are the matches that are deserving of 4 stars, then nothing Ive seen on main roster WWE in the last year is deserving of 4 stars.
I implore you to watch Naito vs Tanahashi from WK11, a match rated 4.5 stars, then watch Kevin Owens vs Roman Reigns from the Royal Rumble this year. Remember that match? It was also rated 4.5 stars. Tell me if you think theres a difference in match quality there. It is blatantly clear that Meltzer rates on a curve when it comes to WWE, because if you watch those New Japan matches I listed above, youll agree that no one on the WWE roster deserves 4 stars for their formulaic, repetitive, boring ass matches, let alone Roman fucking Reigns.
AJ Styles vs. John Cena at Royal Rumble and Tyler Bates vs. Pete Dunne are two WWE matches this year that would have to make the list.
Styles/Cena was 4.75 which is laughable too
Owens/Roman in the Jericho in a Cage match was 4.5
To be fair Styles/Cena was probably the best main roster match in WWE this year, and definitely a good match, but again... watch those matches on my list. It's a different league of greatness.
Dunne vs Bate is the best match with NXT included. I'd probably have it somewhere in my top 20, definitely not top 10 though.
Owens/Roman in the Jericho in a Cage match was 4.5
To be fair Styles/Cena was probably the best main roster match in WWE this year, and definitely a good match, but again... watch those matches on my list. It's a different league of greatness.
Dunne vs Bate is the best match with NXT included. I'd probably have it somewhere in my top 20, definitely not top 10 though.
Angry Grimace
Two cannibals are eating a clown. One turns to the other and says "does something taste funny to you?"
I don't know man, that Styles/Cena match was lit. I can't really compare it to your list, obviously.
I mean you say WWE matches are graded on a curve and yet there have been multiple PPVs lately without a 4 star match or higher, and there hasn't been a 5 star match in 6 years.
serenewarfare
Banned
Free promo codes are irrelevant considering they give us the paid subscriber count every quarter and that's the only thing anyone pays attention to. The promo codes serve to get people to eventually pay.
But they are up YoY, so things are fine for them all things considered on the Network front.
Didn't get the latest job I interviewed for. So that's now approximately £400 I don't have spent on train travel across multiple occasions, a bunch of time travelling the entire length of the country and pissing off my workplace before I go, all for nothing.
So, I start my Great Scottish Adventure as an unemployed bum, lodging a spare room at my future in-laws' house with no immediate prospects.
So, I start my Great Scottish Adventure as an unemployed bum, lodging a spare room at my future in-laws' house with no immediate prospects.
Angry Grimace
Two cannibals are eating a clown. One turns to the other and says "does something taste funny to you?"
Right, but "5 star" is just Meltzer's off-the-cuff impression and not some kind of absolute barometer of match quality.
serenewarfare
Banned
Don't know if it's admirable or idiotic that WWE/Triple H allowed Dunne and Bate to have that match and then just let them back on the indies.
I'm The Cornerstone of WrassleGAF
serenewarfare
Banned
I still can't get over the fact that a WWE championship is being defended in fucking ICW this weekend
And a WWE main roster guy is working that same indie show
2017 is weird.
And a WWE main roster guy is working that same indie show
2017 is weird.
Sweeney Tom
Banned
*highfives*
and thank god for that
And if you look at the ratings, I think there's only 2 or 3 PPVs this year without a 4 star match on it. Stroman vs Roman got 4 stars. Those fuckery multi man main event matches get 4+ stars consistently. These matches are so fucking forgettable that I forget they happened after about 10 minutes.
Again, you look at what gets 4 stars in New Japan and look at what gets 4 stars in WWE and it's like night and day. Graded on a curve. I think Metlzer even admitted as much.
Right at the bottom so everyone else goes over you!
serenewarfare
Banned
I think my view is slanted by Dunne being one of my favorite wrestlers in the world right now. I just really like his style. And that match plus that crowd just felt special. All subjective, mind you, but it'll definitely be in my top ten just on emotional response.
But technically, you are right that there are a lot of better matches this year. This year has been insane and we're only halfway done.
Mase Gumble
Member
The Big Dog is an all time classic nickname that I sometimes refer to myself as irl.
Most World Wrestling Ferderation nicknames are terrible tho I agree.
Most World Wrestling Ferderation nicknames are terrible tho I agree.
serenewarfare
Banned
To be fair, when it comes to four star matches, I can't remember a lot of what happened in any of them. Like I think Ishii vs. Omega in the New Japan Cup was four or above, and I can't name a single spot from that match.
Angry Grimace
Two cannibals are eating a clown. One turns to the other and says "does something taste funny to you?"
I mean, I don't think you're going to get an argument that WWE match quality is equal to or better than NJPW match quality, so I'm not sure what the point is.
serenewarfare
Banned
I just got curious and looked something up. If you go back to NXT Takeover Respect (the Bayley/Sasha Ironman match) and look at the card, every single person on it is now on the main roster. Except one.
Asuka.
Asuka.
Empyrean Heaven
Member
Yup, it's being replaced by the new Little Caesars Arena which will open in time for the next NHL season.
UrbanDandy
Member
Styles/Cena was 4.75 which is laughable too
Owens/Roman in the Jericho in a Cage match was 4.5
To be fair Styles/Cena was probably the best main roster match in WWE this year, and definitely a good match, but again... watch those matches on my list. It's a different league of greatness.
Dunne vs Bate is the best match with NXT included. I'd probably have it somewhere in my top 20, definitely not top 10 though.
LOL at the cardboard cutouts.
I'm surprised Styles and Balor don't have a feud.
Dr Duncan Steel
Member
Big Dog is always weird to have for a nickname in my opinion.
I don't want to be a dog, I want to be a MAN, man.
I don't want to be a dog, I want to be a MAN, man.
christ that has to be one of the worst arena names ever lol
avengers23
Banned
When is he leaving?
Not soon enough
Yeah I wouldn't begrudge it being in anyone's top 5 or anythimg like that.
It's definitely in everyone's best interests to branch and watch other promotions and other wrestlers because there's such a crazy wealth of riches out there that can accommodate all tastes. Nobody has an infinite amount of time to watch this stuff and if someone tries but still only has time for their WWE Network sub then so be it. Just gotta branch out, that also goes for folks whose exposure to Japanese wrestling begins and ends at NJPW.
giancarlo123x
Banned
Give it time, it's inevitable and hopefully the club is stuck in the middle somehow. Would be extremely entertaining.
TarpitCarnivore
Member
What else were they going to do with a guy holding a "UK Title"? I still never fully understood the purpose of that tournament other than for WWE to waggle their dick in a market they didn't tap into yet.
FlammableD
Banned
I mean they're still under contract for another 6 months or so, but your point stands.
Predictions for releases:
Ziggler
Harper
Primo and Epico
Curt Hawkins
Heath Slater
Sin Cara
Emma
Summer Rae
a bunch of cruiserweights
For reference, last year's releases:
WWE has come to terms on the release of WWE Superstars Damien Sandow, King Barrett, Santino Marella, Cameron, Hornswoggle, Alex Riley, El Torito and Zeb Colter as of Friday, May 6, 2016.
Ziggler
Harper
Primo and Epico
Curt Hawkins
Heath Slater
Sin Cara
Emma
Summer Rae
a bunch of cruiserweights
For reference, last year's releases:
WWE has come to terms on the release of WWE Superstars Damien Sandow, King Barrett, Santino Marella, Cameron, Hornswoggle, Alex Riley, El Torito and Zeb Colter as of Friday, May 6, 2016.
serenewarfare
Banned
Well according to Meltzer, Triple H always had plans to eventually make a U.K. brand. They just super accelerated the timeline once ITV looked like they were getting in on it. And now that ITV is out, they are taking their time like they originally planned. But they have signed Bate, Dunne, Andrews, Seven, and Wolfgang to standard three year contracts. So those guys are getting paid standard NXT money and also making indie money.
At least it would give them an excuse to make AJ a heel again, he's a much better heel then face.
newdayrocks
Member
I would only be saddened by Harper on that list. I think he'll do OK elsewhere, though.
Man I hope they release Harper, he is completely wasted by this company despite being one of the best workers they have. He'd kill it in the indie scene or in NJPW.
TarpitCarnivore
Member
They don't need any more brands, Christ. I have this weird feeling they may just license Progress and call that "WWE UK"
serenewarfare
Banned
They're not cutting CWs in mass numbers. Triple H would sooner just take them into NXT. Plus, they just today on the conference call went out of their way to praise 205 Live and the CWs.
And Primo and Epico are injured right now. They don't cut guys when they are injured.
You are way, way, way overestimating. And that's if they cut anyone at all. Meltzer has said they are less prone to cut guys and more likely to just wait for deals to expire nowadays.
Nocturnowl
Member
I like how every time the fans seem to be getting behind Harper he would suddenly vanish off TV.
Stop getting over pal, did you learn nothing from Bad News Barrett?
Stop getting over pal, did you learn nothing from Bad News Barrett?
ANuclearError
Member
serenewarfare
Banned
Well, if you believe the rumor mill, the word is that the deal they made with ICW about footage and Network stuff included the option to purchase ICW if WWE sees fit.
But I actually think their brand expansions are a great, great idea. If they let them all run and manage independent of each other, they could act like modern territories. Then the idea of a "world champion" that travels between all the global brands would actually matter again.
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